|
| |
|
Name
|
|
|
Astragalus
|
|
Biological
Name
|
|
|
Astragalus
membranaceus
Family: Leguminosae
|
|
Other
Names:
|
|
|
Huang
qi, Astragalus
|
|
Parts
Used
|
|
|
Root
|
|
Active
Compounds
|
|
|
Astragalus
contains numerous components, including flavonoids, polysaccharides,
triterpene glycosides (e.g., astragalosides I-VII), amino acids, and trace
minerals. Astragalus appears to restore T-cell (a specific type of white
blood cell ) counts to relatively normal ranges in some cancer patients.
|
|
History
|
|
|
Shen
Nong, the founder of Chinese herbal medicine, classified astragalus as a
superior herb in his classical treatise Shen Nong Pen Tsao Ching (circa
A.D. 100). The Chinese name huang qi translates as "yellow
leader," referring to the yellow color of the root and its status as
one of the most important tonic herbs. Traditional Chinese medicine
utilized this herb for night sweats, deficiency of chi (e.g., fatigue,
weakness, and loss of appetite), and diarrhea.
|
|
Remedies
For
|
|
|
Immune
tonic, diuretic, lowers blood pressure, Qi tonic
Astragalus is useful
for the treatment of:
Alzheimer's disease
Chemotherapy support
Common cold/sore throat
Immune function
Astragalus is the primary herb used
in Chinese medicine to tone the immune system of the lungs. It is useful
for conditions of immune deficiency that lead to spontaneous sweating. It
is also used for spleen qi deficiency with symptoms of weak, low
metabolism; edema; and prolapse of internal organs, as it raises the
spleen yang and qi. It can be used for qi and blood deficiency caused by
loss of blood or after childbirth.
|
|
Description
|
|
|
Astragalus
is native to northern China and the elevated regions of the Chinese
provinces Yunnan and Sichuan. The portion of the plant used medicinally is
the four- to seven-year-old dried root collected in the spring.
While there are over 2,000 types of
astragalus world-wide, the Chinese version has been extensively tested,
both chemically and pharmacologically .
|
|
Dosage
|
|
|
Textbooks
on Chinese herbs recommend taking 9-15 grams of the crude herb per day in
decoction form made by boiling the root in water for a few minutes and
then brewing the tea. Supplements typically contain 500 mg of astragalus.
Two to three tablets or capsules or 3-5 ml of tincture three times per day
are often recommended.
|
|
Safety
|
|
|
Astragalus should not be
used for cases of excess or when there is deficiency of yin with heat
signs, and it should not be used when there is stagnation of qi or
dampness especially when there is painful obstruction.
back
to top
|
|
